As we near the end of the January transfer window, the future of Victor Munoz has been in focus.
The former Real Madrid youth player has done superbly at Osasuna this season, leading to speculation linking him with a big-money move away from the club.
Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as a potential suitor for Munoz, with the Premier League giants reportedly prepared to trigger the winger’s €40 million release clause.
Real Madrid keeping close tabs on Munoz
According to MARCA, Real Madrid are closely monitoring Victor Munoz’s development at Osasuna, and have not ruled out his return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
It must be noted that the club had retained a 50% transfer rights of the player when selling him to Osasuna in a €5 million deal last summer.
Real Madrid also have a buyback clause embedded in Munoz’s contract at Osasuna, which is worth just around €8 million, making this deal quite identical to Nico Paz at Como.
Although Real Madrid have not yet decided if they want to re-sign Munoz, they have been monitoring his progress at Osasuna.
The youngster, after all, has made a solid impression with his ability to dribble past players at will, having averaged 12 dribbles per game this season.
Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Munoz due to his dribbling prowess in the final third. But Real Madrid are a significant obstacle for the Premier League giants as the club can re-sign the player’s services on a cut-price deal at any given time.
The report adds that Real Madrid consider Munoz a successful investment, especially knowing that the club might require the services of a new winger next season.
Following their latest defeat to SL Benfica, it became evident that Real Madrid’s troubles are far from over, as the team continues to struggle in crunch games.
Against Benfica, the attack lacked any real creativity and once again appeared overly reliant on Kylian Mbappe.
A key part of the problem has been the lack of consistency in the right-wing position, which has seen a lot of competition this season with no takers.
Five players vying for one spot
As reported by AS, overbooking at right-wing has made it the most contested and volatile position in the squad, leaving new manager Alvaro Arbeloa with a wealth of options but no clear owner.
The season began with a simple premise under Xabi Alonso: Rodrygo would play on the left, leaving Franco Mastantuono and Brahim Diaz to share minutes on the right. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically.
The position is now unclaimed, with fierce competition involving not just the original duo but also a returning Rodrygo, academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia, and even Fede Valverde.
The lack of continuity is stark. No player has managed to start more than four consecutive matches in that role. Ironically, the outsider Valverde held the longest streak earlier in the campaign.
Mastantuono has been the most consistent option, recording 14 starts, yet he has failed to play half of the team’s 33 matches and has completed 90 minutes only once.
While he has started four of the five matches under Arbeloa due to Brahim’s AFCON absence, the position remains fluid.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo had a brief explosion of form – three goals and three assists in five starts- but hamstring discomfort and a goal drought since the Super Cup have hindered him.
Arbeloa has also experimented with Gonzalo on the wing, as the striker’s natural number nine position is blocked by Mbappe. But with the youngster not looking effective in the role, the situation remains open.